Out of Control [Original recording remastered]

Peter Criss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000612T
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,513 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. By Myself

2. In Trouble Again

3. Where Will They Run?

4. I Found Love

5. There's Nothing Better

6. Out Of Control

7. Words

8. You Better Run

9. My Life

10. Feel Like Letting Go

11. Bonus Track

Editorial Reviews

CD has 10 songs. Produced by David Wolfert. Distributed by Mercury Records

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars On the border to 4 stars, May 5, 2004

By 

L. B. Ivarsson (Rock City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Out of Control (Audio CD)

When each member of Kiss recorded their own personal solo album back in 1978, Peter Criss' sounded very different from the traditional Kiss approach. One might suspect that the opportunity to record those songs made Criss realize that he actually could continue doing his own thing. Criss left Kiss after another two albums, and in 1980 he released his first album without any connection to the super group Kiss. "OUT OF CONTROL" sounds rather similar to the "Kiss solo effort", and Criss blend different musical styles like rock, pop, soul, and disco in a very attractive way. Peter Criss' rough voice works very well, either if it's slow ballads like "By myself" (with the honest lyrics: "By myself / Starting over again / By myself / Looks like this time I'm on my own"), melodic pop sounding tunes like "My life" or more rocking numbers such as "Out of control". This is a fine collection of great songs with connection to both the previous "KISS SOLO ALBUM" and follow up "LET ME ROCK YOU" (the best album from Peter criss).

Gene Simmons (ruler of the Kiss empire) describes Peter Criss (in the book "Kiss and make up") as a person who lack talent regarding everything from writing songs, playing the drums to singing. One might wonder why Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley hired Peter Criss in the first place back in the early 1970's... Just listen to "OUT OF CONTROL" and decide for yourself which one of Criss and Simmons who has the most talent. If you want to take a shot at this good album, be sure you don't end up with the version released on the obscure record company (?) "Beth records" because that one is in fact a bootleg - just a copied vinyl with poor sound.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Criss 1978: Part II, February 17, 2005

By 

Sean Parauka (Orange, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Out of Control (Audio CD)

In 1978, when KISS released the four solo albums from each member, Peter Criss created an album unlike any KISS album ever heard. He created an album that was all Peter. The album was born out of his childhood inspirations such as R&B and 50s Rock and Roll. That album was superior and was a genuine album from the Catman. Then in 1980 after Peter Criss's departure from KISS, he did it again. He created the first album of his solo career. This album picks up right where 1978's solo album left off. It contains the same spirit, same wonderful vocals, the perfect mixture of pop, rock, loveable ballads, and rockin and rollin tunes. It's everything that Peter Criss 1978 was and this time Peter did even better. This is the Cat's Meow!

The opening song is the heartfelt and loving ballad, "By Myself." This song is about Peter now out on his own away from KISS and starting all over again and on his own again. The song is very well acoustically written and Peter sings this song with such a loving and passionate manner that will make you cry. The next track, "In Trouble Again" a heavy rocker with a momentus array of piano, brass and guitars mixed with Peter's cathcy vocals and "Where Will They Run" has an intro that sounds similar to KISS's 1979 hit, "Sure Know Something" and this song is slower than the previous track but is definitely a soothing tune. The next track, "I Found Love" is in the same vein with 1978s, "Rock Me, Baby." It has very catchy vocals and a rockin and rollin sound that makes you wanna get up and dance. Then "There's Nothin Better" is pretty much "I Found Love" Part II. The lyrics are in the same area and continuing with finding love and singing that there is no one better than each other.

The title track, "Out of Control" is a catchy tune that is very well written and arranged and contains great guitar work. The next ballad of the album, "Words" is a very lovely piece. Once again Peter delivers very loving vocals and the song may very well be on of Peter's best ballads ever written. The next track, "You Better Run" is another heavy song with great guitar solos and brass arrangements. Then the last rocker, "My Life" is a song based on Peter's personality and experinces and rocks all the way through. The last song of the album, the power-ballad "Feel Like Letting Go" is so loving and will really bring tears to your face. This ballad is in the same vein as 1978s, "Don't You Let Me Down" when it comes to singing the chorus. Peter shows his greatest talents with ballads on this song. It's such a wonderful way to end a wondeful album.

This album is truly phenomenal. Picking up right where Criss 1978s solo effort left off, he delivered another album in that same vein and did just as well as two years prior if not better. This album has what many rock albums lack: SPIRIT! Peter's albums all have spirit to them and you can hear that in his voice and in the music. And it hurts me to know that Gene Simmons, says that Peter Criss has no talent in song writing, playing drums and singing. It is a fact that Gene shouldn't even open his mouth, because half of the songs he wrote for KISS in their career were terrible and outside of KISS, he can't write a tune to save his life. And it really hurts me because Peter is my idol and I know it hurts Peter to know that Gene says that about him. Peter's greatest talents are truly resembled on this album. No one, not even Gene Simmons can say any differently! Take a ride on the wild side with The Catman, Peter Criss and go "Out of Control."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of Control is a forgotten gem from the ex-KISS drummer., May 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Out of Control (Audio CD)

Out of Control is Peter Criss' ticket to freedom. Finally unchained from the shackles that KISS kept on his creativity, the album showcases the diversity of his songwriting. Out of Control opens with the soft orchestrated ballad, By Myself, featuring the line "By myself/ Starting over again/ By myself/ Looks like this time I'm on my own". Obviously this line is meant as a cry of freedom. This is a very nice song. Violins and cellos echo behind Peter's vocals to create a layered effect. In Trouble Again is a good rock and roll tune with sharp drumming by Peter. It's a decent song but nothing special. Where Will They Run is slowed down a bit again to a mid-tempo. It's got a good groove to it and is a decent song as well. I Found Love is one of the best tracks on the album and is very reminiscent of the material found on 1978's Peter Criss album. Though this song sounds very dated with its keyboards, it is very catchy with a strong vocal performance by Peter. There's Nothing Better is a boogie-woogie type of song like That's The Kind of Sugar Papa Likes from Peter's solo album. The title track is a great song with a good piano track and a superb vocal by Peter. Words is another of the weaker tracks on the album--a bit too schmaltzy for my tastes. You Better Run is a passable song except for the background singers; I don't like the falsetto "HIIIIIIDE!!!" that they bellow. My Life is another catchy tune with a dominant piano track. Feel Like Letting Go wraps up Out of Control. It is a nice slow groove with a good performance by Peter on vocals and more orchestration. Out of Control is a surprisingly good album, dare I say even better than Peter's 1978 solo album?! The songwriting is strong, the musicianship is tight and the album has a cool cover. The songs are very diverse without getting TOO far off base. I did not purchase this album, or even hear anything from it, until the 1998 CD reissue. I bought it primarily to complete my KISS! collection. However I was pleasantly surprised when I gave it a few repeated listenings. The songs really grew on me. I was never a big fan of Peter's 1978 solo album and was unsure what to expect from Out of Control. What I found though was truly a gem.